6111Re: Smithfield (Middleway) VA Bridge

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eighth_conn_inf

Jan 18, 2010

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Gerry,

That was one of the names suggested for the new state carved out of Virginia:

State of Kanawha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unrecognized state of the United States 1861  1863
- Commonwealth of Virginia secedes from the United States and joins the Confederacy April 16, 1861
- Wheeling Convention secedes from Virginia August 20, 1861
- Admitted to the Union June 20, 1863

Kanawha was a proposed name for what later became the U.S. state of West Virginia, formed on October 24, 1861. It consisted of most of the northwestern counties of Virginia, which decided to secede from Virginia after Virginia joined the Confederate States of America on April 17, 1861 at the beginning of the American Civil War (18611865). The separation had been approved by the loyalist Wheeling Convention on August 20, 1861. The name of "Kanawha", based on the Kanawha River, was proposed by the convention as the name for the new state.

During the First Constitutional Convention, on December 3, 1861, Harmon Sinsel, of Taylor County, made a motion to strike the word Kanawha from the new state constitution. The discussion regarding the motion revealed concerns of possible confusion between the State of Kanawha and the County of Kanawha within the same state. Additionally, there was an expressed desire among the convention members to reflect their Virginian heritage. After much debate, the motion passed 30-14 and a new name was sought.

During the subsequent discussion, where names such as "Allegheny", "Augusta", "Columbia", "New Virginia", "Vandalia", "West Virginia" and "Western Virginia" were suggested, it was decided that roll would be called and each member of the Convention would answer their name with their preferred name for the new State. If one of the names reached a majority vote, it would be selected as the new name for the State. Upon vote, 30 of the 44 members had selected "West Virginia". Having reached a majority, the name for the new State officially became West Virginia.

About eighteen months later, West Virginia was formally admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863.

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...> wrote:
>
> Larry;
>
> I recall something using the word "Kanawha" but not sure.....
>
> Yr. Obt. Svt.
> G E "Gerry" Mayers
>
> To Be A Virginian, either by birth, marriage, adoption, or even
> on one's mother's side, is an introduction to any state in the
> Union, a passport to any foreign country, and a benediction from
> the Almighty God. --Anonymous
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "eighth_conn_inf" <eighth_conn_inf@...>
> To: <TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 9:04 AM
> Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Smithfield (Middleway) VA Bridge
>
>
> Gerry,
>
> I've never read it being called anything other than "Virginia" by
> anyone during this time. These border counties in Virginia were
> apparently difficult places to live as both Confederate and Union
> forces were around constantly not just during campaigns or
> battles. Partisans on both sides made life miserable in general
> in Loudoun, Jefferson, Clarke, Berkeley, and Morgan Counties with
> Mosby of course being the best known. I'm not sure that Unionists
> were in a large majority in Jefferson, Berkeley or Morgan
> Counties in the future WV "Panhandle."
>
> Larry
>